Passionate leaders live their lives with dignity and integrity. That translates into their professional lives seamlessly and effortlessly. It is not how they behave. It is not what they practice. It is who they are.

When asked about the role of the print media in modern American, Katharine Graham responded, “We are not here to be popular. We are here to be respected and above all, to be believed.” With Graham at the helm, the Washington Post was respected and believed and served as American’s moral compass during the turbulent post-Vietnam era. Graham firmly believed the coverage provided by her newspaper should not be influenced by government nor intimidated by bureaucracy. The Washington Post was a bastion of journalistic integrity and set the bar for their competitors. Katharine Graham was a passionate leader whose personal integrity dictated her professional decisions as well.

Learn more about Katherine Graham

In addition to delivering a scathing critique of the current administration, Albright gives a few insights into her own rise to power.  But her greatest contribution comes via the insights she offers based on her years of international service. She shares her lessons learned as an executive leader in world affairs.  The knowledge and experience gained as our Secretary of State for President Bill Clinton, as well as her tenure at the UN serve her well as she dissects global politics.   This book serves as a primer for those who are aware of our role in international politics but can’t seem to tie together all the loose ends.  Albright is a great teacher, but an even better patriot.   She implores our next president to act with intelligence, compassion and authority to return the United States to our rightful position as a global leader.

I truly enjoyed reading this book! Claim your own copy here – Memo to the President Elect

And if you would love to read more about Ms. Albright, visit the World Leaders Biography I wrote – Madeleine Albright

Paper or Plastic? Bottled Water or Tap Water?

We are all facing the “inconvenient truth” of diminishing natural resources on our planet. To that end, we must answer endless questions on a daily basis that impact the quality of our world and the quality of our lives. But the savvy and passionate leader should also look inward to see if there is a professional and personal conservation program in place. Are you renewing your own internal natural resources? Are your pursuits “organic” – i.e. naturally by, for, and about you?

By definition, organic means relating to, derived from, or occurring gradually and naturally without being forced or contrived. Think back to all those classmates who went to law school almost by default rather than by design. How many of them are practicing law now? If they are still in the legal profession, how many of them have achieved personal and professional satisfaction? Are they out in front leading the pack, or limping along bringing up the rear?

Some of our most courageous and passionate leaders are those who didn’t follow the map, but charted a singularly separate course, followed their heart, and blazed a trail that others only dreamed of. Author and former UPI White House Correspondent Helen Thomas is one of those whose life/career choices seem to be all home grown. After regaling a crowd at the Orange County Public Library in Orlando Florida recently with stories hewn from covering every sitting president since JFK, Helen Thomas closed her lecture with this: “Make your life worthwhile”. Her choices always have been straight from the heart and her successful career is the living legacy of her organic decisions.

Read more about Helen Thomas …
And what about you? Did you follow your natural inclinations or did you do what was expected? Did you allow yourself to grow and develop naturally or did you succumb to the corporate feed trough and devour everything placed in front of you regardless of whether you benefited in the long run. Passionate leaders understand the importance of nurturing values and skills. They respect that importance in themselves and those they mentor.

If we had all let our career seeds mature and grow naturally, perhaps we would all be successful, thriving passionate leaders. But just as with other living, breathing entities, sometimes nature throws us a curveball. If you have been with the same company for a number of years and in the same position, it is safe to say you might be experiencing a professional “drought”. Maybe a professional thunderstorm is in order! Just as a the floods from a monsoon often follows the path of least resistance, perhaps you have been missing out on some opportunities by not ever actually seeking a path at all! A passionate leader, just like a single blade of grass growing in the concrete sidewalk crack, will reach up as far and as high as present conditions allow. The passionate leader seizes the opportunity, large or small, and makes it memorable.

Passionate leaders also recognize the need to constantly replenish that which makes them thrive. Whether it is time off, a good book, a new project, or acquiring a new skill, most successful leaders would agree that ensuring the longevity of their own renewable resources is a key to their success. Tend to yourself just like a farmer tends to his crop.

Modern passionate leaders value success in the workplace, but also determine that value by its truth. Those who are true to themselves, whose personal and professional choices are organic, seem to have the courage of conviction to stay the course. The decisions you make from your heart are often the simplest to follow. Just like the tomato harvested from your own vine, is always the sweetest to eat!

Make sure all your intentions are organic – of, by, and for You!

Remember, it’s not nice to fool with Mother Nature!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Passionate leaders see an opening, exploit a break, and take a chance when others don’t even recognize the prospect.

If we look back on our own professional paths, we may be able to identify those leaders that inspired us to work harder, contribute more, and strive for greatness.  Achieving success is certainly predicated on hard work and sound direction, but it is also a result of fearlessly seizing opportunities.  Passionate leaders have such confidence in their ability that they are not afraid of making a mistake.  Rather, they see a mistake as an altogether new opportunity.  Passionate leaders embrace the unknown with creatively analytical solutions borne from childlike curiosity.  This childlike quality may be one of the most significant character traits that passionate leaders share. 

Jenny Ming, past president of Old Navy and GAP Inc., credits one of her greatest design ideas to seeing the world through the eyes of her child.  She was dropping off her young daughter at school on the notorious “pajama” day, when all students were allowed to come to school in PJ’s.   Nearly all the kids were wearing their dad’s pin-striped pajama pants matched with a top from their own wardrobe.  Jenny capitalized on that idea by breaking up what had always been a traditional fashion tandem – pajama bottom sold with pajama top.  Old Navy began selling all sorts of pajama bottoms as a separate with plenty of tank tops of all colors available for customers to create their own mix and match style.  This revolutionary and radical approach to selling a traditional fashion item increased sales and demonstrated how a childlike vision can reap huge benefits.  Jenny Ming passionately embraced her daughter’s point of view and crafted a marketing campaign that was the envy of her competitors.

Read more about Jenny Ming…

The Automotive Women’s Alliance Foundation or AWAF is proud to be a sponsor here today. As President of the non-profit organization, AWAF, and as President of my company QuadWest Associates, LLC, I was asked to prepare to answer this question:

Would you share with us the status of women in the automotive industry as well as how women business owners can use AWAF to advance their businesses?

The second part of this question – sharing how women business owners can use AWAF to advance their businesses – is easy. I will be happy to answer this.

The first part of this question – Share with us the status of women in the automotive industry” – is about as much fun as answering “How much do I weigh?”

The answer for both is personal…

And can best be answered with

“Well I have come a long way and I have some more work to do!”

I take the status of women in the Automotive Industry personally. It is the Automotive Industry that gave me tremendous experiences, a beautiful home, a great Cadillac CTS to drive, a well funded 401K with GM stock…

My first job out of college was with General Motors as a College Grad in Training in 1979.

My last job in a corporate position was with a $165 million joint venture company serving Delphi as the President in 2004.

Every position in between was directly tied to the Automotive Industry. I did climb the corporate ladder from payroll clerk roles to Supervisor roles, to General Manager to VP to President.

The climb was a roller coaster ride full of ups and downs.

There are three key insights I gained from looking back over my career in automotive that are serving me well even now as an Entreprenuer:
1) I took risks. When I was with MSX we had an opportunity to quote opening an office in Mexico City to support GM. We won the project, I saw it as an opportunity to create MSX de Mexico and run the office in Mexico.

Shall I name the RISKS – my company was unsure of just how profitable this “GM win was”, I would be leaving behind a job I knew well, I did not speak Spanish, my family – a husband and two sons 7 and 10 lived here in Troy, Americans doing business in Mexico City were a target for crime…
I once again sought the job and got it – not sure anyone else wanted it! This position made the difference in my career – I stepped up and demonstrated leadership with a successful launch and profitability for MSX deMexico with in six months! My confidence blossomed.

2) I made requests and choices that suited me. I took ownership of my career.

I took the opportunity for a buyout from GM when I felt my career there was not working and my personal family needs demanded more attention.

Another time… I said to my boss “I am curious why we have VP’s in the corporate offices with folks who are not bringing in revenue, and he has team members like my self who have $60 million in annual revenue coming into the company who are General Managers…”

Then there was the time I was demoted from Sales VP to a Manager during a company restructuring working for someone who had been my peer. I immediately knew this was not going to work for me. Knowing that my relationship with Delphi, the client, my relationship with the joint venture company, TechCentral, supporting Delphi and that a critical contract renewal was coming up, I quickly asked a few of my trusted colleagues to help pull together a plan for me to be formally selected as President for TechCentral. I took action to turn an uncomfortable position into a win – not only for me but also for the client and my company as the contract was renewed for another three years and we won Delphi’s Supplier of the Year Award a year later.

3) I delivered results. I made a habit early in my career of tracking my progress to action plans, to quantifying the numbers – Days Outstanding, Customer Satisfaction, Number of Hires, Turnover, Revenue, Profit and yes sometimes Losses – those early 90’s were very tough years and then again in 2000 – I knew what my numbers were and over time I became better at sharing my results with management.
Now when I look back at these 3 key insights –
1) taking risks – taking a path no one else wanted
2) making requests and taking ownership of my career choices, and
3) delivering results, being accountable

I did not always realize what I was doing at the time, but I did trust my gut when I new action was needed even when I was unsure of what it should be or what the outcome would be if I took it.

I share my personal story with you because I believe there is a strong undercurrent of activity all throughout the Automotive Industry. Women are succeeding and making a difference in their positions and are doing so below the radar screen. I encourage women to take ownership, ask for more, take risks and be accountable.

When I look back to when I started in General Motors and the number of women in key positions within the company and within the supplier community, it was difficult to find enough women to count them off the five fingers on one hand. Now we can easily count more than 10 hands worth easily.

Is this progress? Absolutely! Is it enough progress? No!

We must take the status of women in the automotive industry personally. Personally we must look to see if we are contributing, stepping up to our own leadership capabilities.

“We have come a long way and we have some more work to do”

Now to answer how women business owners can use AWAF to advance their businesses…

AWAF is an organization dedicated to that advancement of women in the global automotive industry. AWAF is unique in that:
we Champion Women and since 1991 have given close to $80000 in scholarships to over 30 women pursuing careers in automotive.

we provide Access to Powerful Women through our Executive Advisors and the diversity of roles in our membership representing Manufacturing, Marketing, Dealerships, Finance, Sales Business Development, Human Resources and many more…

we provide Networking and Relationship Building opportunities with Top Women Automotive Executives. Our events are more intimate and our panelists are very open and approachable sharing of their lessons learned from doing business in Automotive

and we provide an opportunity for Members to share experiences, learn from one another, give back to other women in meaningful ways.

One of our members was seeking a pay raise and gained invaluable insight from her peers in understanding her value and how to craft her message to her boss powerfully. She got her raise.

Another member was pricing out a proposal for new and expanded services that would take her business to the next level. Through discussions with AWAF members, she realized she was underbidding the value of her services and became confident with new knowledge to bid the business higher than she had imagined and won the client!

We do business with one another. I personally have used the services of several of our members and just last week have connected one of members with one of my clients.

It is these kind of experiences that make me proud to serve AWAF as its President. I invite you to become a member.